Related Lessons and Activities: Elementary
National Geographic: Inside the White House
http://www.pbs.org/weta/whitehouse/
Travel inside the White House with virtual tours and interactive games like "Decorate Your Own Oval Office."
http://www.pbs.org/weta/whitehouse/world.htm
Decorate the Oval Office
http://www.pbs.org/weta/whitehouse/ovalfrm.htm
Mapping the Area Around the White House
http://www.pbs.org/weta/whitehouse/mainmpfr.htm
Travel: Spots of Interest in D.C.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/whitehouse/mntrvfra.htm
PBS Kids Democracy Project: President For A Day
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/presforaday/index.html
This activity provides a job description for the presidency, so students understand what kinds of skills and competencies are necessary in that office. Students have the opportunity to role play the president for a day, making decisions about different events that a president might actually experience (meetings with Cabinet members, speeches to the public, bowling in the White House).
Dear Presidential Diary
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/educators/presdiary.html
In this creative writing exercise, students develop five first-person diary entries exploring the duties and privileges of the presidency.
Presidential Places Quilt
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/educators/presidentialplaces.html
Honor past presidents and explore their connections to Washington, D.C. landmarks through research and the creation of a class quilt, to be displayed in the school and presented to the U.S. president through digital photography and creative writing.
Painting Presidential Portraits
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/educators/presportraits.html
Redesign U.S. paper currency to recognize six U.S. presidents and describe their significant accomplishments.
The Perfect President
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/educators/perfectpresident.html
Identify the legal requirements, previous experiences, and personality traits that equip someone to be a successful president. Write a job description and a newspaper article. Evaluate how selected past presidents measure up to the criteria generated by students.
I.O.U.--An Introduction To The National Debt
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/educators/nationaldebt.html
One of the President's most important duties-setting national priorities through the federal budget-is explored here, with a special focus on the national debt, explained in introductory terminology.
PBS Mathline: Math and the Presidents—Comparing Costs
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/mathline/concepts/president/activity1.shtm
Calculate the cost of the Louisiana Purchase and Thomas Jefferson's library in current terms, and compare presidential salaries in the 19th century and today.